Dear Fellow Dog Lovers,

December is here and the shelter dogs are excitedly hoping to find their forever homes before Christmas, so they can spend the holidays in a real home. There were fourteen adoptions during the past week. These were the Blog Dogs who are now home.

 

Will I have a new home by Christmas?

Baxter smiled! On Sunday I found volunteer Diane playing ball with this sweet boy. And he was smiling! Baxter has been waiting since October 26th for his forever family. He is a two-year-old Shepherd mix. He is house-trained, has a good history with children, is mostly an indoor dog and is not at all destructive when left alone. He went to puppy class when he was a youngster and so knows basic commands. He is active and loves to play. He would need to meet any potential canine siblings and would probably do best as an only pet (no cats please). He has become quite a favorite of many of us volunteers. Here is Baxter in action, doing his favorite thing in the whole world. Let’s get him a family before Christmas!

And here is Baxter at a Subaru outreach event with staff member Meredith and volunteer Victoria. Meredith wrote: “Baxter did a terrific job! He charmed the pants off two families. He was absolutely perfect! Friendly and happy. And he settled right in and started napping on the showroom floor.”

 

 

 

I’m young, I’m active, I’m absolutely adorable! You know you want me!

I met a newbie on Sunday who was quickly becoming Miss Popular among staff and volunteers. Hazel is a seven-month-old Pit Bull Terrier mix with a ton of energy and a terrific sense of humor. She is house-trained and knows some commands. Best of all, she is very treat-motivated, so will be easy to train. Hazel is extremely people-oriented and loves attention, most of all belly rubs. She will throw herself down on the ground, roll over, then close her eyes in contentment as you scratch her tummy. Hazel will make some family with older kids a delightful new companion. Here she is with Daniel, one of her new fans.

This is what she does…collapses onto the ground!

She’s very proud of herself!

See? Total contentment!

 

 

 

All I need is some TLC and I’m good!

If you are a long-time reader of my blog posts, you may remember Joker, a now four-year-old German Shepherd mix.  I first wrote about him in October 2012. He was adopted, but then came back to us two years later with a terrible skin condition due to allergies resulting in the loss of almost all of his hair. After WHS got him back to an almost perfect coat, he was adopted a second time last March. But he was surrendered on November 9th, again with some hair loss. He will need good dog food and some TLC (baths), but Joker is looking better and able to be adopted again. His history is puzzling. He had a good history with cats and other dogs two years ago (he enjoyed dog play groups at the shelter), but the most recent adopter reports he should be an only pet. He does have some food-guarding issues, so needs to go home with adults. With all that said, Joker is a delightful, playful boy now that he’s feeling better again. He will make the right person a terrific best friend. Currently Joker has a cold, so is in the ISO kennels which is where I found him and volunteer Francis having a great game of fetch.

This is the “Hey, Martha, got treats for me?” look!

 

 

 

Caroline’s Pick of the Week!

Caroline’s Pick this week is a brand-new arrival. Meet Remington, an eleven-month- old Border Collie/Retriever mix who came to us through another shelter. This youngster was found as a stray, so we don’t know anything about her, but Caroline and I both fell in love instantly. Here’s what we learned about her during her photo shoot: She loves treats. She’s got a ton of energy, but she “sits” on command. She needs to work on leash manners. She has the attention span of a gnat. And she’s about the sweetest, happiest and most eager dog ever! We’re hoping Remington will be with her new family long before Christmas!

 

 

 

What? You don’t think that “Mistletoe” fits me?

When I saw that we had a newbie at the shelter named Mistletoe, I just assumed that she would be a dainty princess Chihuahua. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Yep, this is Mistletoe, found as a stray. But what a sweetheart she is! At seventy-four pounds, this Mastiff mix is anything but dainty. However, she is such a delightful girl. She has had some training, as she knows “sit” and “down,” and she is such a big lap dog! She does need to work on her leash manners, but as treat-motivated as she is, it shouldn’t take long before she is walking loose-leash. We have all fallen for this gentle girl!

Mistletoe hanging out with Ali and Harmony on Sunday.

 

 

 

I know. One ear up, one ear down. It’s just the way I roll.

This cutie is another newbie named Baloma, a four-year-old Border Collie mix. This little girl is smart, works for treats, and loves the challenge of learning new things. As a Border Collie, she is very active and will need lots of exercise. But at the end of the day, she will want to curl up by your side, leaning against you, and snooze. Here she was on Sunday with Jolene, who is one of her biggest fans and who wrote this after spending time with Baloma on Monday: “She’s very sweet and affectionate. She gets so excited she wants to jump up and play with you, so we are working on getting pets once she isn’t jumping. Loves going for walks and should be easy to train as she is smart and checks in with you for attention. Terrific dog.”

 

 

 

I’m still here. Think I’ll find a home by Christmas?

Jameson has been waiting for a while now for a new family to find him. He is a four-year-old Rottweiler mix. He first came to us in a transfer from California last April, and we named him Kody. He was adopted quickly, but because of family health problems, he was surrendered back to WHS. Jameson is house-trained, enjoys games of fetch and playing with other dogs. He would do well with older children because of his exuberant personality and needs an active family. I love this picture of him and Esme from Sunday. He looks so sincere. He is getting so stressed in the shelter. He hates to return to his kennel and has to be coaxed. Fingers and toes crossed that he has a family of his own before Christmas!

 

 

 

I may be little, but I’ll be a big friend!

Jarvis is a nine-pound one-year-old Chihuahua mix who came to us as a stray, so we don’t know his history. However, he has gotten along well with other dogs at the shelter and his size is just about perfect to be a lap dog. He was adopted once, but returned because he was too nervous around the toddler in the home, so a family with older kids will be best for Jarvis. He’s a little shy at first meeting, and he’s hoping for an understanding and patient family who will give him the space and time he needs to feel relaxed and at home. Here he was with Gracie on Sunday.

 

 

 

I’m looking for a family who wants to have adventures and lots of FUN!

This is Tank, a five-year-old Boxer mix. He is looking for a home with older, sturdy kids, as he doesn’t realize his own size when he gets to playing and can accidentally knock over little ones. Tank is an eager, affectionate, and happy-go-lucky boy who is highly treat-motivated. He knows he needs to work on his leash-walking skills and is trying hard to listen to directions. Tank is house-trained and can’t wait to meet his new family. He’d be a perfect candidate for one of our WHS training classes where he could continue to improve on his impulse control. He spent some quiet time with Daniel on Sunday afternoon. As you can see, nothing gets this guy down, not even a cone after being neutered!

 

Update!

Bunny/Kali

Bunny came to WHS through our ASPCA partnership. She showed signs of a very hard life and although she was extremely happy to greet people in her kennel, she had a great fear of leaving its security. I was able to coax her outside using turkey for treats so that I could get her profile picture.

She quickly won the hearts of all those who tried to persuade her to go outside. Happily she was quickly adopted and here is her wonderful update from her new family.

“Saturday, Dec 5, 2015. Kali aka Bunny has been in our home a little over 48 hours now and is transitioning well. We made it out today to have a family picture with Santa. She is doing great…coming and going outside on her own and finally sat next to my other Bully Blue on the couch today….baby steps lead to miles with patience…Thank You everyone who has been involved in her rescue. Thank You Thank You Thank You!”

 

WHS News Briefs!

Remember! We are hoping to win the $2000 prize for the most votes for our WHS Christmas Tree! All you have to do is: Text GIVE4 to 444222. You can vote every day until Dec 16th. The winner will be announced on Dec 17th. Let’s win for our shelter animals!

 

Subaru’s Share the Love Event!

Here is part of a press release from WHS about this year’s Share the Love Event by Subaru.

Capitol Subaru in Salem has again chosen Willamette Humane Society as their local hometown charity for customers to support in addition to national charity options: ASPCA®, Make-A-Wish, Meals On Wheels Association of America®, and National Park Foundation. From November 19, 2015 to January 2, 2016, Subaru will donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased to the customer’s choice of available charities.

BJ Andersen, WHS’ Executive Director wrote: “Capitol Subaru has supported Willamette Humane Society for over twenty years!  We want to thank them for this renewed, phenomenal opportunity. This thoughtful gesture allows our community to open the floodgates of Subaru of America’s generosity to care for animals at the shelter.”

During the 2014 Holiday Season, Subaru purchasers selecting Willamette Humane Society as their charity choice channeled $33,056 to serve animals in need!  Capitol Subaru and Willamette Humane Society leaders hope that new Subaru buyers will help raise $25,000 or more during the 2015 season.

 

That’s it for this week!

Remember, if you see a dog on my blog whom you are interested in  meeting, try to make arrangements to get to the Willamette Humane  Society soon. Some dogs are adopted more quickly than you might think.

You can reach me at adoptanoregondog14@yahoo.com